The new Chopard L.U.C 8HF Power Control replica wristwatch Ref. 168575-9001 not only features one of the best examples of European industrial design, but also offers a very unusual high-beating movement that, while being twice as fast as your average caliber, also manages to work for as long as 60 hours: a remarkable achievement in this extremely rarely populated class. For the new season, the brand has recently released its new Chopard L.U.C 8HF Power Control model. No, it is not an ultimate tool watch for a control freak. In fact, the only thing that makes the new model different from the 2012 original is the power reserve indicator.
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Placed at 10 o’clock (those wearing shirts with longer sleeves may find the design a bit inconvenient), the mechanism further emphasizes the “off-centered” theme of the timekeeper successfully developing the idea first put forth with the small seconds indicator, which is located at 7 hours, as well as with the unusual date aperture with the only clearly visible numeral staying between 5 and 6 o’clock.
The matte black body machined out of a single block of some ceramic (the original 8HF was crafted from titanium), the red ring on the bezel and accents of the same color on all indicators are accentuated by white lume on the hands and arrow-shaped hour markers, as well as by black sunburst dial that achieves extra depth thanks to the chosen texture.
It is purely subjective, but I really like the chosen black-and-red color scheme: it kind of reminds me of the legendary Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird long-range reconnaissance aircraft: perhaps the only spy plane that was never intercepted by adversary’s fighter jet or surface-to-air missile.
Quite expensive with all of its high-tech features, it was inevitable that the Chopard replica L.U.C 8HF Power Control watch would be issued only as a limited edition model. However, given its price, I am almost sure that every serious customers ready to pay a small fortune for this gadget will have no problem finding one of these beauties.
Although the 42 mm case looks circular when you look at it from the front, it is fact barrel shaped thanks to the integrated lugs with their “squarish” profile that seems to be inspired by classic Lamborghini super-cars. As the new Caliber 01.09-L that powers this beautiful timepiece looks very nice (well, not just nice: its decor seems to be very congruent to the overall styling of the watch), I feel almost disappointed that only the escapement is clearly visible through a single small cutout in the back, but the idea of accentuating the case’s unibody design with a small round aperture still speaks to me.
See also: Chopard Superfast Chrono Porsche 919 Limited Edition (Ref. 168535-3002)
Photos: Chopard
WWR preliminary verdict
Originality 5/5
Build quality: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Legibility: 5/5
Value for money: 4/5
Chopard L.U.C 8HF Power Control Automatic (Ref. 168575-9001) watch specification
Price: $20,800 (MSRP)
Movement: Automatic, L.U.C Caliber 01.09-L, COSC-certified chronometer, silicon impulse-pin, lever, and escape wheel, Swiss Made
Number of jewels: 24
Movement frequency: 57,600 vph
Power reserve: 60 hours
Movement decoration: Cotes de Geneve motif, skeletonized oscillating weight
Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, date, power reserve indicator
Case material: Stainless Black ceramic
Bezel material: Matches case
Crown material: Matches case
Case shape: Barrel
Bezel shape: Round
Case size: 42.00 mm
Case height: 11.20 mm
Lug width: No data
Dial: Black sunburst
Numerals: None
Hour markers: White
Hands: Black, luminous
Water resistance: 100 meters
Strap: Hand-sewn matt black alligator leather strap with a cognac-toned alligator lining, fitted with a titanium pin buckle
Crystal: Sapphire, antireflective
Case back: Solid ceramic with sapphire cutout over balance wheel
A couple of years ago, the Swiss watchmaker has presented a watch that was powered by a revolutionary (well, sort of) movement. Beating at 57,600 vibrations per hour (twice that of a typical contemporary mechanical caliber), the then-new Caliber L.U.C 01.06-L that powered the mens Chopard replica watch easily left in the dust even the well-known Zenith El Primero series of high-speed mechanisms